Grim Reality

By Maggie G., Barrington, IL

Image Credit: Laurita A., Kannapolis, NC

DenialI close my eyes, open them again& reread the text message,“dead” … there it is.My mouth drops and my jaw quivers.I am shocked, as if I were just dropped into the Arctic Ocean.After a few minutes I erase the text in disbelief.I am short of breath.My nose begins to run.I lie back on my bed.

AngerMy face is warm with rage.I clench my teeth & think to myself.How can he be gone?Why was he taken?Shaking in pain, my heart feels like it’s being stabbed.I clench my fists closed.I am bitter.

ConfusionDriving by the tracks where he was hit.I see mounds of flowers.I raise my hands & draw them across my shrinking view.Hunched over I shake my head & turn away.Why him? He was so young.

AcceptanceI catch myself looking for him in the hallways where we used to pass each other.I can’t walk by the park without thinkingabout that sticky summer day when all of us climbed up into that small, creaky tree house.We sat up there until sundown, laughing & talking. Most of the laughter was product of his clever personality.There isn’t anything anyone can do to bring him back.However, we can remember what made him so special & try our best to keep that alive.